First Reading (Deuteronomy 4,32-34,39-40)
Reading of the Book of Deuteronomy.
Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Question the ancient times that preceded you, from the day that God created man on the earth, and investigate from one end of the heavens to the other, whether there has ever been such a great event, or whether you have heard anything similar.
Is there any people who have heard the voice of God speaking to them out of the fire, as you heard, and have remained alive? Or will there never be a God who comes to choose for himself a people from among the nations, through trials, signs and wonders, through battles, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and through great terrors, like everything that through you what the Lord your God did in Egypt before your own eyes?
Recognize, therefore, today, and engrave it in your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on earth below, and that there is none other than him. Keep his laws and his commandments that I command you today, so that you and your children after you may be happy, and may live long days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you forever.”
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Second Reading (Romans 8,14-17)
Reading of Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
Brothers: All those who allow themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Indeed, you did not receive a spirit of slaves, to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adopted children, in which we all cry: Abba, O Father! The Spirit himself joins with our spirit to attest to us that we are children of God. And if we are children, we are also heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs of Christ; if we truly suffer with him, it is to also be glorified with him.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Matthew 28,16-20)
— PROCLAMATION of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain that Jesus had indicated to them. When they saw Jesus, they prostrated themselves before him. Still, some doubted it. Then Jesus came and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make my disciples of all people, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you! Behold, I will be with you always, until the end of the world.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
May the peace and grace of God be with you. Today, we gather here to celebrate the greatness of our God, Creator of all things. In this homily, I meditate on the powerful truths revealed in our biblical readings, which invite us to delve deeper into our faith and live according to the teachings of Jesus.
Have you ever stopped to think about the wonder of God’s creation? In the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses reminds us of God’s extraordinary action in the history of humanity. He exhorts us to contemplate the greatness of God, who performed “no wonder like this before or after” (Dt 4,32). My friends, as Christians, we know that God’s creation was not limited to the past, but continues to unfold before our eyes each day.
Look around you – the beauty of nature, the complexity of life, the incredibly intricate web of existence. All of this is the work of God’s hand, who calls us to be witnesses of his glory. Just like Moses, we must stop and contemplate the miracles around us, letting them fuel our faith and encourage us to fully trust in the Lord.
But that is not all. God not only created the world, He also chose a people for Himself, freeing them from slavery and making them His own. This is the surprising reality that Saint Paul reveals to us in his Letter to the Romans: “You did not receive the spirit of slaves to fear again, but you received the Spirit of filial adoption” (Rm 8:15). My brothers and sisters, we are sons and daughters of God! That is the incredible privilege we have been given.
Therefore, we should no longer live as servants, fearing the wrath of a distant master. Rather, we are called to live as heirs, confident in the love of our heavenly Father. Imagine what it means to be a son or daughter of God. We have direct access to the throne of grace, we can invoke his name with complete freedom and intimacy. How wonderful this is!
And yet, we often forget this fundamental truth. We let fear, doubt and anxiety take over us, when we should be firmly rooted in the certainty of God’s love. My friends, we need to let this reality sink deep into our hearts. We are sons and daughters of the King of kings, heirs of his eternal kingdom. Nothing in this world can separate us from his love.
This is, in fact, the message of Matthew’s Gospel that we hear today. After His resurrection, Jesus meets with His disciples and gives them the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all people, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28, 19). My brothers and sisters, this order applies to each of us. We are called to leave this place and bring the Good News to all humanity.
But how can we accomplish this great task? We should not fear, as Jesus assures us: “I am with you always, until the end of the world” (Mt 28:20). He does not leave us alone on this mission. Instead, He gives us His presence, His power, and His guidance. With Him by our side, we can face any challenge, overcome any obstacle.
So let’s not feel intimidated or insecure. God adopted us as His sons and daughters, and sent us to proclaim His glory to all nations. This is an immense task, true, but it is also a wonderful opportunity to participate in the redemptive work of Christ. He wants to use each of us to fulfill His mission to bring His kingdom to Earth.
My beloved brothers and sisters, I know this can feel like an overwhelming responsibility. After all, who are we to be messengers of the Most High? But remember the words of Moses: “Recognize therefore and engrave in your heart that the Lord is the only God, in heaven above and on earth below, and that there is no other” (Dt 4,39) . It is God who calls us and empowers us. We must not rely on our own strength, but rather on the grace and power of our heavenly Father.
When we surrender to Him, when we trust His guidance, He does incredible things through us. Remember the story of Moses, Gideon, David – ordinary men who, by faith, accomplished extraordinary feats. In the same way, God wants to use each one of you, with all your weaknesses and limitations, to fulfill his will in the world.
So, don’t hesitate! Entrust yourselves confidently into the hands of the Lord. Be obedient sons and daughters, willing to go wherever He calls you and do whatever He asks of you. You will not be alone – He will be with you, supporting you, strengthening you, and guiding you every step of the way.
My dear brothers and sisters, let this truth sink deep into your hearts today. You are sons and daughters of the Most High God, called to a glorious mission. Do not allow fear or doubt to paralyze you. Instead, embrace your identity with joy and courage, knowing that nothing can separate you from the love of God.
May this conviction inspire you to live as true disciples of Christ, bearing witness to His grace and love to a thirsty world. May your lives proclaim the sovereignty and goodness of our heavenly Father, drawing other souls into His eternal kingdom.
May the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, descend upon you and accompany you on this journey. May the light of Christ shine through you, illuminating the paths of those who still walk in darkness. Go in peace, and may the Lord guide you in His mission of love.
Amen.
